New Haven County Police Blotter and Public Safety Records
New Haven County police blotter records come from local police departments across the county. Connecticut does not have county sheriff's offices. Each city and town keeps its own police records. New Haven County has over 864,000 residents. It is the third most populous county in Connecticut. The county seat is New Haven. Major cities include Waterbury, Hamden, Meriden, and West Haven. State Police Troops G, I, and F cover towns without local police departments.
New Haven County Quick Facts
New Haven County Police Blotter Records Overview
Police blotter records in New Haven County show daily police activity. These logs include calls for service, incident reports, and arrest information. Each department keeps its own blotter. Some publish daily logs online. Others require you to request them in person or by mail.
Under Connecticut law, arrest records are public from the time of arrest. CGS §1-215 defines what must be released. This includes the name and address of the person arrested. It also includes the date, time, and place of arrest. The offense charged must be disclosed as well.
However, some records are exempt from public view. Active investigations stay confidential. Juvenile records are protected. Witness names may be redacted. Victim information is often withheld for safety. Knowing these rules helps you understand what you can get when you request a police blotter in New Haven County.
New Haven and Waterbury Police Department Records
The New Haven Police Department serves the largest city in the county. They are located at 1 Union Avenue in New Haven. You can call them at (203) 946-6316 for non-emergency requests. They offer online reporting for certain incidents. Their P2C portal lets you look up some records online.
Waterbury is the second largest city in New Haven County. The Waterbury Police Department sits at 255 East Main Street. Their phone number is (203) 574-6911. Sergeant John Iommazzo oversees the Records Division. You can reach the records unit at (203) 574-6933. They handle incident reports, accident reports, and FOIA requests.
| New Haven Police |
1 Union Avenue New Haven, CT 06519 Phone: (203) 946-6316 Website |
|---|---|
| Waterbury Police |
255 East Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: (203) 574-6911 Records: (203) 574-6933 Website |
| Meriden Police |
50 West Main Street Meriden, CT 06451 Phone: (203) 238-1911 P2C Portal |
How to Request New Haven County Police Blotter Records
Getting police blotter records in New Haven County takes a few steps. First, find which police department has the records you need. Then contact that department directly. Most departments accept requests in person, by mail, or by email.
You will need to give some basic details. These help the department find the right records:
- Date and time of the incident
- Location where it happened
- Names of people involved
- Case number if you have it
Fees vary by department. Most charge $0.50 per page for copies. Some offer the first few pages at no cost. Payment is often required before you get the records. Call ahead to learn the exact fees and payment methods. Some departments only take cash or money orders.
Processing times differ. Accident reports are often ready in 5 to 10 business days. Incident reports may take 7 to 15 business days. Reports involving arrests stay sealed until the court case ends. Be patient when waiting for your request to be filled.
State Police Coverage in New Haven County Police Blotter Records
Connecticut State Police covers towns without their own police departments. In New Haven County, three troops provide this service. Troop G is based in Bridgeport. Troop I operates from Bethany. Troop F serves from Westbrook.
Troop G handles calls from parts of New Haven County near Bridgeport. They can be reached at (203) 696-2500. Troop I covers the Bethany area and nearby towns. Their number is (203) 393-4200. Troop F serves the shoreline towns. You can call them at (860) 399-2100.
State Police records follow different rules than local police. The DESPP Reports and Records Unit handles requests. They charge a $16 search fee for each incident. This fee applies even if no report is found. You can visit their office in Middletown. The address is 1111 Country Club Road. You can also use their online GovQA portal to submit requests.
Other New Haven County Police Departments and Blotter Access
Many mid-sized cities in New Haven County maintain their own police departments. Hamden Police operates from 2900 Dixwell Avenue. Their non-emergency number is (203) 230-4000. West Haven Police is at 200 Sawmill Road. Call them at (203) 937-3900 for records.
Milford Police sits at 430 Boston Post Road. Their phone is (203) 878-6551. Wallingford Police is at 135 North Main Street. Reach them at (203) 294-2800. Naugatuck Police operates from 211 Spring Street. Their number is (203) 729-5221.
Smaller towns like Cheshire, Branford, and North Haven also have local police. Each keeps its own records. Contact them directly for blotter requests. Some towns post daily logs on their websites. Others require formal FOIA requests for any release.
Freedom of Information Act Requests for New Haven County Records
Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access public records. This includes police blotter records in New Haven County. You do not need to say why you want the records. Any person can make a request.
Agencies must respond within four business days. They can grant, deny, or extend the time needed. If denied, you can appeal to the FOI Commission. The appeal must be filed within 30 days. The commission can order records to be released.
Some records are exempt from FOIA release. These include active investigation files. Juvenile records stay sealed. Medical information is protected. Victim identities may be withheld in certain crimes. Uncorroborated allegations can be destroyed under CGS §1-216.
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission is in Hartford. Their address is 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1100. You can call them at (860) 566-5682. They offer a toll-free number for Connecticut residents at (866) 374-3617. Visit portal.ct.gov/foi for more help.
Online Resources for New Haven County Police Blotter Records
Some departments offer online access to police records. The DESPP Accident Information Summary database is free to use. It provides basic crash data for 30 days after an accident. Visit accidents.despp.ct.gov to search.
BuyCrash.com sells accident reports online. These are usually ready within 30 business days. You will pay a fee for each report. LexisNexis Police Reports also sells accident records online. Not all departments use these services. Check with the specific police department first.
Some towns have Police to Citizen portals. These let you search incidents online. Meriden offers this service. Other departments post daily arrest logs as PDF files. Norwalk does this each morning at 6 AM. Check your local police department website to see what they offer.
Cities in New Haven County with Police Blotter Records
New Haven County has 27 towns and cities. Each maintains its own police records. Click below to learn about specific cities.
Other towns in New Haven County include Wallingford, Naugatuck, Cheshire, Branford, East Haven, and North Haven. Each has its own police department or State Police coverage.
Nearby Counties with Police Blotter Records
These counties border New Haven County. They have similar police record systems.